How to Print Multiple Files at Once in Windows 11

To print multiple files at once in Windows 11, open File Explorer, select up to 15 files, right-click them, click Show more options, and choose Print. Each file prints to your default printer, one after another.

This works best when all the files are the same type, like PDFs or Word documents. Windows opens each file in its default app and sends it to the printer, so you do not have to open and print every file yourself.

Before You Start

• Set the right default printer. Files printed this way go to your default printer without asking. To change it, see how to set a default printer in Windows 11.
• Check each app’s print settings. Windows uses the default settings of each file’s app, such as single-sided or color. Change those first if needed.
• Put the files in one folder so you can select them together.

How to Print Multiple Files From File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer and go to the folder with your files.
2. Hold Ctrl and click each file you want to print. To pick a group in a row, click the first file, hold Shift, and click the last one. Press Ctrl + A to select everything in the folder.
3. Right-click one of the selected files.
4. Click Show more options. (You can also press Shift + F10 to open the full menu directly.)
5. Click Print. Result: each file briefly opens in its app and goes to the printer queue.

Files print in the order Windows sends them, which usually follows the order they are listed. Sort the folder by name first if order matters.

Why Is Print Missing From the Menu?

Microsoft says Open, Print, and Edit are hidden on purpose when you select more than 15 files, so you do not print a huge batch by mistake. Select 15 or fewer and try again, then do the next batch. Microsoft does document a registry value (MultipleInvokePromptMinimum) that changes the limit, but editing the registry carries risk, so only change it if you print large batches often.

Print may also be missing if the file type’s default app cannot print from File Explorer. In that case, open the files in their app and print them from there.

How to Print Several Photos at Once

Pictures work a little differently. When you select several photos, right-click, choose Show more options, and select Print, Windows opens a single Print Pictures window instead of printing each file separately. Choose the printer, paper size, quality, and a layout such as full page or several photos per sheet, set the number of copies, and select Print. All the photos go out as one job.

How to Check or Cancel the Print Jobs

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Select your printer, then Open print queue.
3. To stop a file, right-click it and select Cancel.

Other Ways to Print Many Files

• Combine PDFs first. Merging several PDFs into one file lets you print them as a single job with one set of print settings.
• Print from the app. Some apps can open several files at once; you can then print each from its window with your chosen settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print different file types at once?

Yes, but each type opens in its own app to print, which can be slow. Printing one type at a time usually works better.

What if nothing prints?

Check that the printer is on and set as the default, and look in the print queue for errors. If it still won’t print, update your printer driver.

Can I choose double-sided printing for the whole batch?

Not from File Explorer. Set double-sided printing as the default in the printer’s preferences first, and every file will use it.

How do I print from my phone?

See how to print from an iPhone with AirPrint.

Selected a batch of photos and just want to look through them? See how to view pictures as a slideshow in Windows 10.

If a Word file comes out smaller than it should, see why your Word document is printing so small.